Mecklenburg County Relationship Education Programs: Fostering Stronger Families and Communities
Mecklenburg County offers a variety of relationship education programs aimed at strengthening families, supporting youth development, and promoting healthy relationships across all ages. These programs recognize that relationship skills are not innate but rather learned behaviors that can be cultivated through education and support. From programs designed for teen parents to initiatives focused on military families and early childhood development, Mecklenburg County is committed to investing in the well-being of its residents through comprehensive relationship education.
Programs for Teen Parents
Safe Journey: Operated by Communities In Schools (CIS) and primarily funded by Smart Start of Mecklenburg County, Safe Journey is a case-management parenting program specifically designed for teen parents and their children ages birth to five. This unique school-based program exclusively serves teen mothers and fathers in Mecklenburg County, assisting them with completing their high school education, delaying subsequent pregnancies, and strengthening their connections with their children, families, and the community.
Safe Journey is an accredited Parents as Teachers® (PAT) Blue Ribbon Affiliate. The PAT curriculum, which guides the program, is relationship-based and parent-focused, emphasizing parent-child interaction, development-centered parenting, and family well-being. Safe Journey case managers partner with teen parents and caregivers to facilitate healthy, positive parenting outcomes for families. They also collaborate closely with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) and other Communities In Schools (CIS) staff to provide targeted, comprehensive services.
To participate in Safe Journey, individuals must be full-time students enrolled in one of the targeted CMS high schools and can enroll at any stage of their pregnancy or while parenting a child/children ages birth to five. A critical aspect of the program is the provision of high-quality child care to all participants at no cost, enabling them to focus on their education and personal development. Elevation Church is a collaborative partner, providing financial support and volunteer assistance to the program. Approximately 100 teen parents and their children are served through Safe Journey each year.
Strengthening Families Programs
Life Connections: Life Connections offers a Strengthening Families program designed to support parents and teens who want to build healthier relationships, improve communication, and create lasting change at home. The program brings parents and youth together for guided sessions that focus on communication, decision-making, and life skills. Since 1997, Life Connections has partnered with parents and teens across North Carolina to provide the support they need to thrive.
Read also: Navigating CMS Placement
Early Childhood Development Programs
Child First: Child First is an evidence-based, intensive, early childhood model that identifies children at the earliest possible time to both prevent and decrease emotional and behavioral problems, developmental and learning problems, and abuse and neglect. This program supports young children (age zero through five) and their families in the home, utilizing a team approach with a Clinician and a Family Resource Partner. The team provides a family assessment, coordination to connect to community resources, mental health consultation in the childcare setting, and Child Parent Psychotherapy (CPP).
Early Head Start and Head Start: These programs serve children from birth to age five, with Early Head Start serving expectant mothers and children up to age three (3), and Head Start serving children between the ages of 3 and 4 years old. Multiple locations are available throughout Mecklenburg County for each program. The programs focus on positive youth development and support social, emotional, cognitive and academic development, physical activity and life skills development. Comprehensive services are a cornerstone of the program and engage families in their child’s education as well as helping fulfill their own goals, connecting them to the needed community support and resources. The strengths of the program include building relationships, learning through creative play, and structured lessons that build on each child’s needs and abilities. Our team members provide families with welcoming environments and enjoyable experiences.
Relationship Skills Education for All Ages
The Center for Relationship Education (CRE): CRE believes that relationship skills should be taught to everyone, regardless of age or background. With REAL Essentials, an evidence-based curriculum, CRE brings its foundational relationship skills to people from all walks of life. CRE is committed to investing locally in Colorado through strategic social initiatives which bring relationship skills training to Colorado middle and high school students, military families, and emergency responder families. As a curriculum company, The Center for Relationship Education brings its expertise and support to the table.
Programs for Military Families: Recognizing the unique challenges faced by military families, CRE offers programs tailored to their specific needs. Deployments, frequent moves, and uncertainty can strain relationships, and these programs provide support and resources to help military families navigate these challenges.
Additional Resources
Children’s Home Society of North Carolina (CHS): CHS offers a network of services and support throughout North Carolina to help establish and sustain healthy, loving relationships in every family. For 120 years, Children’s Home Society has provided a broad spectrum of programs and services including adoption, foster care, parenting education, family preservation, and youth responsibility. Last year CHS served more than 20,000 North Carolina children and families providing over 4,800 families with parent education and support services and creating a safe family placement for nearly 1,100 children who are in foster care.
Read also: Your Guide to Ocean County College
CIBO: Co-parenting can be difficult, and CIBO has been approved as the only accepted provider in some of the largest court systems in the country including Cook County (Chicago) and Clark County (Las Vegas). They are an approved provider in Maricopa County (Phoenix, AZ) as well. Log in and out as needed over 30 days to complete the course. Their class is optimized to fit all screen sizes.
Read also: Empowering Osceola County
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